国际英语新闻：Thai PM vows to push through army operations

The army operations are aimed to prevent red-shirt reinforcement from joining their fellows at Rathchaprasong Intersection, a main rally site, Abhisit said.

Abhisit also asked the general public to understand any inconveniences which have been caused to them by the ongoing military operations to seal off the anti-government rally site.

Other measures include cutting off water, power, food, transportation and mobile phone signals around the rally site.

Military top brasses on behalf of the Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) also addressed the nation to explain the army operations.

Troops, who are deployed to enforce the state of emergency, are armed with only M16 rifles and SK rifles, deputy chief of staff Lt- General Dapong Rattanasuwan said on a television program.

They have been permitted to use both live rounds and rubber bullets to target lower parts of the body or fire into the air when they are engaged in fights with violent protesters, the deputy chief of staff said.

Dapong has reaffirmed security personnel have no intention to kill the protesters as claimed by the red-shirts.

It is recorded by the CRES that on Friday night 16 M79 grenades were fired at security personnel having stationed at various locations, acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said.

The military operations have decreased the protesters' number at the Rathchaprasong area to about 6,000, Panithan said.

Meanwhile, the Pathumwan District Court in central Bangkok sentenced 27 protesters to six months in jail, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Director-General Tharit Pengdit said.

These protesters, who were arrested on Friday, were found guilty of violating the emergency law imposed in the capital by engaging in political gatherings of more than five people.